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Apple Valley will begin major upgrades of Bear Valley Bridge Road later this year.
The project, which was approved by Caltrans last month, is expected to start in December and be completed in April 2028, according to a statement on the town’s website.
It will be paid for with revenue from local, regional, state and federal sources, according to a statement on the town’s website.
Cost was not disclosed.
“This project has been years in the making, and we’re proud to move forward with a design that puts public safety and regional connectivity at the forefront,” said Mayor Scott Nassif in the statement. “It’s not just a bridge; it’s a link to opportunity, access, and a safer future for our residents.”
Built in 1963 and widened in 1988, the bridge spans the Mojave River and is one of Apple Valley’s major thoroughfares. In 2014, Caltrans declared the bridge “functionally obsolete and structurally deficient,” according to the statement.
The agency found that the structure no longer met geometric or structural standards established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, nor did it conform with Apple Valley’s general plan, which calls for multi-modal transportation and better access for pedestrians.
The bridge’s original section will be removed, and the 1988 structure will be widened. Traffic will be move to the south side of the bridge, with two lanes open in each direction while the north side is widened.
That process will be reversed during the second phase of construction. The upgraded bridge will still have six lanes, according to the statement.
